Kia announced that it would be recalling 427,407 Telluride SUV units due to a defect that caused the car model to roll away while parked.
According to the automaker's post via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an issue has been detected in the model's "intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft" causing the problem.
Telluride models made between 2020 to 2023, as well as select units released this year, are expected to be affected by the recall. So far, only 16 vehicles have been flagged with the defect, CNBC News reported.
Owners of the affected SUVs are advised to "manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting" their vehicles and immediately go to their nearest Kia dealers to replace the damaged shafts free of charge.
US Demand Spike for Telluride SUVs Amid Production Issues
It is worth noting that the models affected by the defect coincide with the units produced when US customers are all over for the SUVs.
Kia has earlier been reported of facing difficulties in keeping up with the demand for the vehicles, selling out immediately as soon as they arrive to car dealers.
It did not help that the vehicles were manufactured during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, hampering most production processes with health restrictions and transportation delays.
Kia has yet to acknowledge whether the issue with its intermediate shaft and driveshaft has been caused by crunch time during its early phases of manufacturing.
Are Other Kia Vehicles Affected by Defects Too?
As of writing, Kia has yet to notify customers of other models in their lines having similar problems as with the Telluride SUV units.
It is advised, however, to regularly keep a lookout for system updates on their driving system and other software integrated in the vehicle to avoid injuries.
Kia's customer service can be reached through this number: 1-800-333-4542.
